Producer The Coulon family at Domaine de Beaurenard combine ambition and modesty to winning effect. They have run this estate for seven generations (its history can be traced back even further, to 1695) and it currently consists of thirty-two hectares in Châteauneuf and twenty-five in Rasteau. All thirteen permitted varieties are found here, and the vines average forty-five years old.

Vineyard The vines here grow in complex soils and the pudding stones so typical of the appellation provide extra heat to help the grapes mature. Yields are low and the grapes are picked entirely by hand.

Winery Grapes were destemmed, slightly crushed and placed in a vat for fermentation. A long fermentation period of 18-31 days ensured that the wine gained the desired structure and colour. The wine spent 12-15 months ageing in French oak, with ten percent of the barrels being new.

Taste An immensely fruity nose, with spicy and balsamic notes, then great complexity on the palate: power, finesse, and an incredibly long, mineralfresh finish.

Press “Provides a textbook display of the vintage’s profile, with racy acidity leading the way, allowing the ripe blueberry, plum and blackberry fruit flavors to course along while toasted spice and pastis notes fill in on the nicely grippy, saturated-but-fresh finish. A nice blue-chip for the cellar.” – 93 points, Wine Spectator, November 2012